The Final Entry
It's not at all easy to post an entry from this *&^%$#@! city. I think I'm going to just have to give up.
Internet cafes really are few and far between, but that's not entirely the problem. Even if I can find a terminal which claims to be internet ready, here's what could happen:
I think the spirit of Malaysia Boleh! only works in Malaysia.
Since this is probably going to be my last entry from Beijing, I'd like to answer some very persistent people with very persistent questions with very persistent NO's.
1. No, I have not set foot in the architectural wonder that is the national stadium of Chinese Olympics. The building is sealed. No, I have not even seen it up close. I HAVE however seen in from within a moving bus while on the way to IKEA.
2. No, I have not bought tickets to games. Contrary to what people have been misled to believe, I don't find the tickets anywhere near affordable since my income comes in the form of peanuts.
3. No, food is not a problem. In fact I have not stopped eating. I have put on so much weight that by the time I try to board the plane back to KL, I might not be allowed on. Are you kidding me folks?! Muslims are treated very well in this here red state.
4. No, I am not competing in the Olympics.
5. No, I've not met ANY athletes who will be competing in the Olympics.
6. No, people really don't speak any English here. Not even for the Olympics. No, my Mandarin has not gotten any better either
7. No, I haven't visited any of the tourist spots that I went to back in the winter. Quite frankly, after seeing the Great Wall so many times, it just aint so great anymore.
8. No, the summer heat is not unbearable at all. In fact, KL on average is a good 5°C hotter. But we don't get any rain here at all, so that makes it dryer. But not hotter.
9. No, I will not pick up the phone if you try to call me. Are you insane? If you call me on Maxis, I get billed RM7 per minute. If you call me on my chinese number, you'll drain out my credit even before you can say "Do you have enough credit for this?". So No, please don't call me.
10. And finally No, I still don't know when I'll be back in KL.
And now for some Yes's. (though not as many)
1. Yes, very simple sign languages and drawing pictures really do work. So don't worry so much about picking up the local language.
2. Yes, I'm still reading even though it's summer. I'm into Plato's Republic, More's Utopia, some Nietzsche and a thick 3-in-1 book of Cicero. Probably going to read Bleak House again. Yes, I plan to drive myself insane.
3. Yes, I will still come online from time to time, you can see me on msn in the day. If luck would have it, I might even be able to show my face on the webcam.
4. Yes, I will send postcards. Just give me your address if I don't already have it.
5. Yes, I might be in KL in time for my results. Because (if I remember correctly) the hospital also wants to see me about the same time.
My life here is very routine and repetitive, but not familiar. I wake up in the morning, attend to chores, go out, run errands, come home, watch Jonny, write nonsense in my journal, go to sleep.
On some days I go to the radio station. Some days aku pergi pasar and borong sayur sampai patah bahu nak angkat. On some days I go to the book building in the city. On some days I go to Walmart. On some days I hang out at the blue volunteers booth and annoy the heck out of those on duty there. Some days I go to the post office. Some days I go to the parks and draw. Other days I just stay in bed and read.
There's really nothing special about living here. I'm not a tourist, never have been. I have a six months visa and a residential permit with a permanent address, a transit card and a cafeteria card - aku tak jakun lagi.
I am however, indescribably annoyed with the Olympics and its absurd security measures. In the bus on the way here, an elderly lady who works with the voluntary force for the Public Security demanded to peek into my handbag. Obviously human rights article for the preservation of privacy is alien to her, so I didn't bother to protest.
And I am indeed appalled by the fact that after about seven weeks, I have finally picked up a summer tan. Now how am I supposed to dress up in my school uniforms and not look ganguro??? (okay kidding, I am not that dark and have not bleached my hair)
Oh how I miss my uniforms!!!
Okay then, it's time for me to bid one last adieu - it's time for me to leave this dark room and go hunting for some DURIAN. And yes, sini ada durian. And no, tak mahal pun.
Whosoever that gets the feeling like I've left them behind, I'm so sorry. And those who think they've been brushed aside, I'm sorrier still. There was indeed something I wanted to run away from, someone to be exact, but if you're reading this (ie; my blog) then it isn't you, and I sincerely apologize if my flight has wounded you.
Dearest Kau,
tak sabarnya nak jumpa kau!!! Sudah terlalu lama kita tak berjumpa/berbual/bergossip ya?? XD Datanglah! Datanglah!
Dearest Mermaid,
hang in there ya? kita memang tak dapat menjangka rezeki dariNya. InsyaAllah we will meet again dan berYukata!
Dearest Jade,
don't work yourself too hard. Enjoy the holidays, you won't have much of them anymore once you really commit yourself to an office!
Dearest Matahari,
you have aided me and illuminated the darkest parts of me and for that I must thank you. But at the same time I'm feeling a little burnt. A little cooked. But you are probably shining too brightly to see that.
Dearest Darcy,
you are still in the habit of asking me questions at the very moment when I cannot answer them. I still feel the same way about you, but we've both learnt that if we only had that, then we're definitely short.
Dearest Hart,
you left a few wounds in me that are still raw even today, I give you that. But you once prophesized that I will be miserable for the rest of my life because of the way I am? You were wrong.
Dearest Bonny,
what you need is a big hug and if you would just close your eyes you would know that we are only separated by distance if we allow the map to come into the picture. Hang in there!
Until we meet again,
Oh how I am alive!
Internet cafes really are few and far between, but that's not entirely the problem. Even if I can find a terminal which claims to be internet ready, here's what could happen:
a. The internet runs smoothly, beautifully, yet the server blocks blogspot.
b. The internet is a little cranky, goes on and off, but blogspot is not blocked, then fatefully kills itself the minute I click PUBLISH POST.
c. The internet is beautiful, blogspot is accessible..... but I will choke to death from the cigarette smoke that has altogether replaced the air in the cafe.
d. Internet? sheme? (translation: what?) oooh~ meiyou! (oh, TAKDE!)
I think the spirit of Malaysia Boleh! only works in Malaysia.
Since this is probably going to be my last entry from Beijing, I'd like to answer some very persistent people with very persistent questions with very persistent NO's.
1. No, I have not set foot in the architectural wonder that is the national stadium of Chinese Olympics. The building is sealed. No, I have not even seen it up close. I HAVE however seen in from within a moving bus while on the way to IKEA.
2. No, I have not bought tickets to games. Contrary to what people have been misled to believe, I don't find the tickets anywhere near affordable since my income comes in the form of peanuts.
3. No, food is not a problem. In fact I have not stopped eating. I have put on so much weight that by the time I try to board the plane back to KL, I might not be allowed on. Are you kidding me folks?! Muslims are treated very well in this here red state.
4. No, I am not competing in the Olympics.
5. No, I've not met ANY athletes who will be competing in the Olympics.
6. No, people really don't speak any English here. Not even for the Olympics. No, my Mandarin has not gotten any better either
7. No, I haven't visited any of the tourist spots that I went to back in the winter. Quite frankly, after seeing the Great Wall so many times, it just aint so great anymore.
8. No, the summer heat is not unbearable at all. In fact, KL on average is a good 5°C hotter. But we don't get any rain here at all, so that makes it dryer. But not hotter.
9. No, I will not pick up the phone if you try to call me. Are you insane? If you call me on Maxis, I get billed RM7 per minute. If you call me on my chinese number, you'll drain out my credit even before you can say "Do you have enough credit for this?". So No, please don't call me.
10. And finally No, I still don't know when I'll be back in KL.
And now for some Yes's. (though not as many)
1. Yes, very simple sign languages and drawing pictures really do work. So don't worry so much about picking up the local language.
2. Yes, I'm still reading even though it's summer. I'm into Plato's Republic, More's Utopia, some Nietzsche and a thick 3-in-1 book of Cicero. Probably going to read Bleak House again. Yes, I plan to drive myself insane.
3. Yes, I will still come online from time to time, you can see me on msn in the day. If luck would have it, I might even be able to show my face on the webcam.
4. Yes, I will send postcards. Just give me your address if I don't already have it.
5. Yes, I might be in KL in time for my results. Because (if I remember correctly) the hospital also wants to see me about the same time.
My life here is very routine and repetitive, but not familiar. I wake up in the morning, attend to chores, go out, run errands, come home, watch Jonny, write nonsense in my journal, go to sleep.
On some days I go to the radio station. Some days aku pergi pasar and borong sayur sampai patah bahu nak angkat. On some days I go to the book building in the city. On some days I go to Walmart. On some days I hang out at the blue volunteers booth and annoy the heck out of those on duty there. Some days I go to the post office. Some days I go to the parks and draw. Other days I just stay in bed and read.
There's really nothing special about living here. I'm not a tourist, never have been. I have a six months visa and a residential permit with a permanent address, a transit card and a cafeteria card - aku tak jakun lagi.
I am however, indescribably annoyed with the Olympics and its absurd security measures. In the bus on the way here, an elderly lady who works with the voluntary force for the Public Security demanded to peek into my handbag. Obviously human rights article for the preservation of privacy is alien to her, so I didn't bother to protest.
And I am indeed appalled by the fact that after about seven weeks, I have finally picked up a summer tan. Now how am I supposed to dress up in my school uniforms and not look ganguro??? (okay kidding, I am not that dark and have not bleached my hair)
Oh how I miss my uniforms!!!
Okay then, it's time for me to bid one last adieu - it's time for me to leave this dark room and go hunting for some DURIAN. And yes, sini ada durian. And no, tak mahal pun.
Whosoever that gets the feeling like I've left them behind, I'm so sorry. And those who think they've been brushed aside, I'm sorrier still. There was indeed something I wanted to run away from, someone to be exact, but if you're reading this (ie; my blog) then it isn't you, and I sincerely apologize if my flight has wounded you.
Dearest Kau,
tak sabarnya nak jumpa kau!!! Sudah terlalu lama kita tak berjumpa/berbual/bergossip ya?? XD Datanglah! Datanglah!
Dearest Mermaid,
hang in there ya? kita memang tak dapat menjangka rezeki dariNya. InsyaAllah we will meet again dan berYukata!
Dearest Jade,
don't work yourself too hard. Enjoy the holidays, you won't have much of them anymore once you really commit yourself to an office!
Dearest Matahari,
you have aided me and illuminated the darkest parts of me and for that I must thank you. But at the same time I'm feeling a little burnt. A little cooked. But you are probably shining too brightly to see that.
Dearest Darcy,
you are still in the habit of asking me questions at the very moment when I cannot answer them. I still feel the same way about you, but we've both learnt that if we only had that, then we're definitely short.
Dearest Hart,
you left a few wounds in me that are still raw even today, I give you that. But you once prophesized that I will be miserable for the rest of my life because of the way I am? You were wrong.
Dearest Bonny,
what you need is a big hug and if you would just close your eyes you would know that we are only separated by distance if we allow the map to come into the picture. Hang in there!
Until we meet again,
Oh how I am alive!
